For a 2:00 pm Christmas dinner with a 5.5 kg turkey, the turkey goes in at 09:50. Here's everything else, from ordering the turkey in November to carving.
The countdown
| Date | Task |
|---|---|
| 27 November | Order your turkey |
| 11 December | Confirm who's coming and who's bringing what |
| 18 December | Check you have a meat thermometer and a big enough tin |
| 20 December | Collect or buy the turkey |
| 22 December | Move it to the fridge to defrost (10–12 hours per kg) |
| 23 December | Big food shop: veg, potatoes, cream |
| 24 December | Make stuffing, bread sauce and cranberry sauce; peel veg; lay the table |
Christmas Day
| Time | Task |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Make the gravy base / stock |
| 09:20 | Take the turkey out of the fridge |
| 09:30 | Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) |
| 09:50 | Turkey in the oven (5.5 kg) |
| 12:45 | Parboil the potatoes |
| 13:00 | Roast potatoes into the oven, on the top shelf |
| 13:10 | Start checking the turkey's temperature |
| 13:20 | Pigs in blankets into the oven |
| 13:30 | Turkey out to rest, covered with foil; turn the oven up to 200°C |
| 13:35 | Stuffing into the oven |
| 13:40 | Make the gravy |
| 13:45 | Cook sprouts, carrots and parsnips on the hob |
| 13:50 | Warm the bread sauce |
| 13:55 | Carve the turkey |
| 14:00 | Christmas dinner is served |
| 14:45 | Christmas pudding |
Roasting time uses the Food Standards Agency's guide of 40 minutes per kg for a 4.5–6.5 kg turkey at 180°C / 160°C fan. Ovens vary, so check the temperature: 70°C for 2 minutes in the thickest part.
FAQs
What time should the turkey go in for a 2pm dinner?
For a 5.5 kg turkey, about 9:50: 3 hours 40 minutes of roasting at 180°C plus 30 minutes' rest.
When should I take the turkey out of the fridge?
About 30 minutes before it goes in the oven.
When should I defrost a frozen turkey?
Allow 10–12 hours per kg in the fridge. A 5.5 kg turkey needs up to about 3 days, so move it to the fridge by 22 December.
Plan it in minutes
Different turkey or dinner time? Type them into the planner and it rebuilds this whole timeline, plus an oven plan, menu and shopping list.
See the Christmas Dinner Planner UK →
